Here’s his latest e-mail to group members (Quick point: Both Golub Corp., owner of the Price Chopper chain, and Wegmans strongly reject the assertion that they have a non-compete agreement):

Dear Group:

In the past few weeks, I have received several reports that something is stirring. But this one, received yesterday (from a very reliable source within our ranks) is the most solid evidence that our campaign is making progress:

Good morning Bruce,
I was at a TJ store in [ ] this weekend and spoke with [ ] who has been with them for years and in 3 different parts of the country. Of course he was familiar with our campaign and that is how his store came to be – persistence on the part of the customers. He gave me the following information:

1. Two of the real estate people for NYS have been scouting locations in Buffalo , Syracuse , Binghamton and Albany . He explained he had heard Rochester and Upstate have Wegmans as competition. I explained that Albany does not and will not have a Wegmans due to the agreement between them and Golub.

2. He mentioned that due to the changes in the economy they have abandoned opening in FL and are revisiting Upstate NY.

3. He also said the NYS liquor laws could be an issue but he thought it would not be a deal breaker.

4. The last thing he said was they move very fast once they make up their mind and he would not be surprised at all if we have one in place by late 2010! He emphasized that we need to keep up the campaign and not back down if we really want them. [ ] asked that I not use his name as they are not supposed to discuss future plans of the store (as we know!). He said he really felt that we will have one in 2010 but could not tell me in which location as he said it is still undetermined.

Chris Churchill

93 Responses

I am all in favor of supporting a Trader Joe’s in our area. They carry interesting and tasty sauces, fresh and frozen meal selections, and a wonderful produce and dairy section. And I certainly cannot forget to mention their coffee – the perfect pot brewed each morning.
I search for their stores whenever I am on vacation, traveling to friends’ houses, or dropping my kids off at college in the Boston area. But even that is not enough.
If anyone from Trader Joe’s is reading this blog – please know that you will be happy if you open a store in the Capital Region! So may people are already willing and excited to support your store.

For all us wegmans fans, a article in last weeks syracuse post journal did state that wegmans is indeed scouting the albany area for locations. The article was written by bob niedt who writes about retail and such on upstate/central ny.Lets keep our fingers crossed.

John,
Can you provide a link to that article? Because Wegmans has always said the exact opposite to us. Just two weeks ago, in fact, an executive there told TU Business Editor Eric Anderson that the company has new New York expansion plans.

@John
OK, I think I find the reference you’re referring to. (It’s below.) It’s important to remember, though, that it’s an opinion piece and not any sort of statement from the company.

From Bob Niedt: So with Wegmans and Albany, as I’ve written, the opposite of my distribution channels argument can be employed. When Wegmans proves successful in Boston, which it will, they may consider linking Boston to Rochester and Central New York with more stores — in Albany and Springfield, for starters. Maybe one big one per market.

Are the products at trader joes really all that great? I think that the Albany area has many outlets for high quality products. Albany has had specialized gourmet markets in the past which have failed. I think these places closed because the demand for fois gras and caviar is limited, and the population levels are too low to support outlets that only serve a niche market. Cowan and Lobell wouldn’t be able to compete with Price Chopper and Hannaford today. As I understand it, Trader Joe’s sells high quality packaged and processed food, like salsas and boxes of cookies. Sounds nice but – I must be missing something if some people are so devoted to it.

Is the fervor over getting a trader joe’s about their greatness, or is it just the same lament that Albany lacks what other, more hip places, like Boston or Westchester County, have? I remember when I was in college, I wished Albany had Chili’s and Olive Gardens. Now that we’ve had these for 15 years or so is Albany a nicer place to live in?

Wouldn’t it be nice if Albany had a homegrown success story that other areas coveted?

Wahoo, I live one hour north of Albany, but I would still make the drive at least once weekly. Furthermore, I do not stand alone. Just like the field of dreams, if you build it they will come. Whenever I am going out of town, I check to see if there is a Trader Joe’s there. I pack up the coolers for the cold stuff and off I go. How cool it would be to have such a market locally. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We live in Downeast Maine and travel often to Albany and Connecticut to visit with family, with side trips to Massachusetts. Trader Joe’s has become one of our favorite places to shop when we visit Connecticut and Massachusetts, and we would LOVE if a store would locate in Albany.

Trader Joes is not just any store! It’s a unique grocery store that cuts out the middle man and buys directly from the seller, allowing them to keep costs down and quality high. They are also not franchised, which contributes to their continued success.

I hope your source is right Bruce! I would shop there almost every day of the week!

“• Oh, and Price Chopper? Wegmans is scouting for the best spot to build and open its first Albany-area store. If you read Store Front, you would have seen that predicted a long time ago, since Weggies is building a store in Boston. A good source says Wegmans is now exploring the Albany market, Price Chopper’s home turf.”

Stephanie (comment #42) must be married to a Golub. Price Chopper has “great prices”? Not in Saratoga!! Last Sunday I compared items that appeared in the newspaper flyers for both Price Chopper and Hannaford. When I got done totaling up the exact same items on sale in both stores, Hannaford came in over $20 cheaper!! Yeah, Price Chopper has that stupid gas deal. People, you have to spend $50 to get a measley $2.00 back in gas! And the gas is usually higher to begin with!! Just think how much more you could be buying for $50 if you shopped at Hannaford or WalMart.
As for TJ’s, they consistently beat both PC and H in pricing. I find that their products have far fewer additives and they have unusual products you don’t see in typical grocery stores. We need more shopping choices in this area—and don’t forget that PC is making a move to acquire even more stores which could result in a stranglehold on our area. Give us a choice!!!

I can’t wait for a local Trader Joe’s! Right now, I stockpile all my favorite frozen products – the pasta, dumplings, and risotto – when I visit Boston or NYC. This is what I keep on hand to avoid resorting to unhealthy fast foods when there’s no time for cooking.

But, I don’t always have time to drive 2 hours to do my groceries. Right now, my freezer is empty, and horrors of horrors, I might have to resort to picking up dinner at McDonald’s.

Can’t wait for TJ”s to come to the Albany area. I use to do all my shopping at Price Chopper but since they have gotten so expensive and with the increased desire for really healthy food I am in full support of backing Trader Joe’s. I’m all for supporting local, but in todays economy who can afford to buy local organic or range free chicken? Trader Joe’s has great quality and the friendliness of a small market. I’ll be a good, regular customer and it will be nice not to have to go to MA or CT to shop at their stores. As for the wine, I’m all for opening a liquor store right next to the market(If BJ’s can do it, why not?) Please open a store soon.

TJ’s can’t sell alcohol in Pennsylvania and Maryland, chooses not to do so in New Jersey, and only does beer in most of their downstate locations and in Connecticut. I’d say they can pull this off regardless of what SLA lets them do or not do.

Trader Joe’s sells high quality, unique products at very reasonable prices. Price is the difference between Trader Joe’s and gourmet specialty stores. I was introduced to Trader Joe’s when my daughter lived in CT, and I quickly grew to love it! Now she is in California, where there are many Trader Joe’s and whenever I am out there a few Trader Joe’s products come home in my suitcase! Wegman’s is a very good store also, but Trader Joe’s is unique.

RE: PC & Hannaford. PC’s prices are great for whatever they have on sale that week. Overall, Hannaford is cheaper. However, neither one of them compare to Trader Joe’s (or Wegman’s).

Everyone here makes good points pro & con. With all the empty storefronts in the Capital Region, surely Trader Joe’s can find a niche.
Competition benefits all. Regardless of your shopping preference, please welcome the possibility of a new kid on the block. Until then, happy shopping, wherever you go!!!

Vin (#34), Trader Joe’s really isn’t a foie gras and caviar kind of place. It’s a regular grocery store that carries unique, healthy, tasty and relatively low priced items. The gourmet stores around here that failed, like Eats for example, were way too specialized and high priced. Trader Joe’s is NOTHING like that.

I occasionally shop at the Trader Joe’s in Hadley, MA if I happen to be out that way. I don’t make a special trip to the store, but we always find good stuff there. If it were closer, I could see shopping there much more frequently, but I wouldn’t stop shopping for the rest of the stuff I need at Price Chopper. For all the negative comments on Price Chopper, it’s at the end of my street. Driving farther for “cheaper” groceries would be an oxymoron. You would wasted what you saved in gas.

So, I say bring a Trader Joe’s to the area. It will satisfy a lot of people in all the arenas – those looking for specialty foods, those that detest PC and Hannies and those that just want something different. What could it hurt?

Trader Joe’s ***please come to the Capital District!!!*** I live an hour west of Albany in the wilds (not really) of Cobleskill. Were there a TJs the Capital District I’m probably not going to do my regular grocery shopping there. But when I’m having a party, or I’m bring something special to a friend’s party, I would *love* to be able to go to TJs.

I grew up in a LA suburb. There’s a TJ there I’ve been shopping at when I visit for 40 years. It’s a treat to shop there!

Nearly every store/chain has its good points. I’m a member of the Nisky co-op; I go to the Honest Weight co-op once or twice a month. I get most of my weekly groceries from Price Chopper, but produce is mostly from the troy and Schenectady farmers’ markets. Since they’ve dropped almost everything but Boar’s Head cold cuts, I no longer buy cold cuts from Price Chopper.I only go to Hannaford for a few items. Many of the local small grocers have a limited stock of one or two items I need, so I rarely trade there. I don’t buy canned foods, so I don’t visit Price Rite.

I go to Hadley, MA 2-3 times a year and stock up on items at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods that just aren’t available here. Whole Foods doesn’t sell anything with high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners, so that makes label reading much easier. TJ’s has cookies and frozen foods that no one else carries. If I could get the quality and variety of fish, meats, and cheeses, as well as ready-to-eat foods locally that I can get at Whole Foods, I’d keep my shopping local.

I’d be happy to share my grocery money between Tj’s, Whole Foods, Wegeman’s , and Price Chopper – I’d just like the opportunity to do so.

I am in favor of keeping things local but as someone who works full time at night and on weekends and takes care of my child all day, I don’t have time to volunteer at the co-op in order to get a discount. When I do go there to get things (though I love the selection of cheeses and veggies) I find that I spend WAY more money then other stores, even on produce and I can’t afford to drive to 5 or 6 stores to get everything I need. I will continue to use farmers markets for my produce but when it comes to quick meals that my husband and I can eat, Trader Joes would be very helpful. I love their cheese selections and meats as well and I always love that if I don’t have time to bake I can pick up a sweet treat to give as a thank you to friends and neighbors.

I did just go home for the holidays to Pennsylvania and visited my local Trader Joes. They don’t allow any alcohol (no beer either) to be sold in grocery stores and we’ve had a Trader Joes there for 5 years or so. If it isn’t a problem in Pennsylvania, it shouldn’t be here. It’s time Albany provides us with options so that we can all make choices that are best for our families.

Before I moved to Albany, I shopped at TJ’s almost weekly. The prices are great, and the selection on basics isn’t limited to the same old tired brands. I still bought some staples at the local supermarket, but TJ’s has things that none of them do or will. The Co-op here has sky-high prices, by comparison, and a selection that just isn’t comparable. And yes, the “NY state liquor laws” issue is a moot point & they know it. They either don’t sell alcohol in the downstate stores, or do as Stew Leonard’s does & have a separate little ‘store’ for the wine right next door. We need more choice up here. I am SO tired of the limited options.

Trader Joes would be great for this area. I stop at Trader Joes everytime I get a chance. As a side trips when traveling to NYC, Boston or DC. In fact this past weekend I attended a wedding in CT and made a special trip to Trader Joes in Orange, CT. I love the Irish Tea bags, the olive oil, nuts and chocolate. We don’t have any stores like TJs in this area.

My husband and I travel to the Hadley, Ma. Trader Joe’s every 3 or 4 months ever since it opened. We always look forward to stocking up on favorites as well as looking for new items to try. TJ has not disappointed us yet. The prices are great and it really is a “unique grocery store”. What a treat it would be if we didn’t have to drive 2 hours to get there. We also stop at Wegman’s whenever we’re near one, but I find the prices high unless the item is on sale. Price Chopper and Hannaford also do a good job. COMPETITION IS GOOD.

I shop at Trader Joe’s whenever I am in MA or NJ. It is a great store that would compliment what we already have in the area. There are just so many great products that I have only found at Trader Joe’s! I hope they come to Albany soon.